On 17th July, King Charles III delivered the 2024 King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament, outlining proposed laws that aim to speed up housebuilding and enhance decision-making powers for metro mayors and combined authorities in England.
The government’s plans also include:
- Providing renters with ‘greater rights and protections’ by ending no-fault evictions.
- Removing the VAT exemption on private school fees.
- Establishing the publicly owned Great British Energy.
- Bringing train operators into public ownership.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented on the Speech, stating: ‘It’s time to unleash Britain’s potential. For too long, people have been limited by their origins rather than their abilities and hard work. I am committed to generating wealth across the country. This is the only path to progress, and my government is dedicated to supporting this goal.’
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), which has recently urged the government to introduce measures to ‘unlock investment,’ responded positively to the Speech. Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, remarked: ‘The Speech contains many elements that reflect the concerns of businesses and shows that the government is implementing measures to benefit companies and stimulate investment.’
‘We are eager to collaborate with the government to bring these plans to fruition and propel the economy forward.’